Qurbani guide published by AHDB

Aidan Fortune
· 21 September, 2015

A Qurbani guide has been issued by AHDB Beef & Lamb to help industry, butchers and consumers during the Muslim festival of Eid al-Adha.

The two-sided A5 leaflet, printed in English and Urdu, is being distributed to abattoirs and butchers this week to give to consumers and help provide clear guidance for a valid Qurbani – where animals are sacrificed as thanks to God – during the festival.

Dr Phil Hadley, AHDB Beef & Lamb head of global supply chain development, said: “Halal is a growing market which adds value to the sheep meat sector. Qurbani is a key point in the Islamic calendar – in effect the Muslim version of Thanksgiving – and presents a valuable opportunity for the industry.

“The leaflet we have produced, with key input from the industry, is in response to demand from the halal sector and is aimed very much at helping ensure that authentic Qurbani are performed. We have also translated the document into Urdu to ensure we can reach as many people as possible.”

Qurbani commemorates the prophet Ibrahim’s (Abraham) willingness to sacrifice his son to God, but then was given a sheep by God to sacrifice instead. The festival also marks the end of the Hajj pilgrimage to Makkah, which is when the Qurbani sacrifice is carried out as the final stage of the pilgrimage.

Naved Syed of YABA said that official confirmation coming from the Moon Sighting Saudi Judiciary was that the moon for the blessed month of Dhul Hijjah was not sighted on Sunday 13 September “so we will complete the full 30 days of the current Islamic month of Dhul Qadah”.

The Day of Arafah will be Wednesday 23 September while Eid al-Adha will be on Thursday 24 September 2015, which is the day of Qurbani .Therefore it is unlawful for any slaughtermen in any abattoir to perform Qurbani before the time of Qurbani begins, which is not before 7.30am in England and Wales as it will be unlawful by Shariah law.

There are concerns that some abattoirs and butcher’s shops, due to the demand, will sell Qurbani that have been slaughtered before the Eid al-Adha Prayer. Those performing Qurbani before Eid al-Adha are doing so against the sunnah and thus against Shari’ah said Syed.

Moulana Yunus Dudhwala from the Halal Monitoring Committee said: “For Muslims, Qurbani is the most important sacrifice of the whole year. Abattoirs and butchers must be vigilant and responsible in ensuring all the laws pertaining to Qurbani are adhered to so that this important spiritual day is not ruined by intentional or unintentional wrongdoing.”